Yomp isRoyal Marinesslang describing a long-distanceloaded march carrying full kit. It was popularised by journalistic coverage in 1982 during theFalklands War. The origin of the word is unclear, and there is no evidence to suggest that it derives originally from an acronym. Variousbackronymic definitions have however been proposed, including "young officers marching pace", "your own marching pace" and a connection with the termyump used in rally-driving in the sense of "to leave the ground when taking a crest at speed", apparently a Scandinavian pronunciation ofjump.[1]
The word and its meaning came to national prominence in the UK during theFalklands War in 1982. After disembarking from ships atSan Carlos onEast Falkland, on 21 May 1982, Royal Marines and members of theParachute Regiment yomped with their equipment across the islands, covering 56 miles (90 km)[2] in three days carrying 80-pound (36 kg)[3] loads. They were supposed to be transported by helicopters, but after theAtlantic Conveyor, which carried the helicopters, was sunk by Argentinian Exocet missiles on 25 May, the soldiers had to march across the island.[citation needed]
The image of Royal Marine Corporal Peter Robinson with aUnion Jack fixed to his radio antenna became one of the most widely published of the Falklands War.[4] Now known as "The Yomper", it was taken by Petty Officer Peter Holdgate, Commando Forces Photographer, whilst working as part of the Commando Forces News Team. After landing with 40 Commando atSan Carlos, Holdgate accompanied British forces across the Falklands War zone taking hundreds of photographs as the Royal Marines proceeded along the Moody Brook track towardsStanley.[5]
When news of thesurrender of Argentine forces was received, Marine Trev Gillingham produced a small Union bunting flag from hisbergen, which he had acquired fromSS Canberra's bunting locker. Marine Gillingham first tied the flag to Corporal Robinson's radio aerial, who was the last man in the patrol. It eventually blew off and was then fixed with masking tape to the radio aerial. The photograph itself was entirely spontaneous and not staged. The original Union Jack has been lost.[4]
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The image was used as the inspiration for a statue of Royal Marine Commando that was unveiled byMargaret Thatcher at theRoyal Marines Museum inSouthsea, Portsmouth on 8 July 1992 to mark the 10th anniversary of the conflict.[6]
British Army slang for the same marching conditions is "tab",[7] while inUnited States military slang, the terms to "ruck" (from the "rucksack" being carried) or to "hump" (from the phrase "humping a pack") are used.[8]
